New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

important Military Eysnts from 1873 to 1857 A1 ~
THOMAS W Knox. illustrated. $40. PIP 4'''
q. r. Putnam's Sons.
Colonel Knox has compiled what is intended rs
A supplcmcnt to Cresy's Fifteen Decisive Bat
Ties of the Worli,n though it cannot be said to be
upon the same general lines. In Cressys book
the battles of which the history is given are those
which really were decisive in some large way.
Colonel Knox on the other hand has put in his
LIST a number OF engagements which. while I'M
portant and in some instances pivotal have hot
the same claim TO Re allied decisive In fact'
II his standard applied to the military events
of the entire Christian era several volumes would
have to be devoted TO the description OF battles
equally decisive with full half Of those recounted
in the present volume. The title is somewhat
ill-chosen in fact but there can be no question as
10 the interest of the book. Whether or not we
consider these great battles the narration
CT them is instructive and valuable, and III Is
good thing to have them brought together so con-
yeniently in single volume There are twenty
five of them, beginning with the battle OF
Ayacucho in 1924 and closing with the fan OF
khartoum in 1885. Siegcs and attacks even
naval expeditions, are included In the table OF
contents The principal engagements of the war
OF the rebellion are carefully described, ana IN
nearly every case plans and MAPS arc employed to
make the positions clear 10 the reader. The work
is handsomely printed, and it only lacks good
index to he an indispensable reference book. This
should be added in later editions.
TWILIGHT THOUGHTS. Stories for Children ana a
Child-Lovers. BY MARY s; CLAUDE Edltea py
XaSo1p. I2mo PIP io4. Boston: Giun & Co.
These little stories and allegorcs have dis
tinct literary value They are the vehicles of
remarkable faculty OF observation, deep love
and knowledge of nature and broad and lofty
adactc purpose. Mr.. Arnold in his preface says
Of the author: "She was connected with Ger
many; and the soul of Northern Europe, of the
Germany of Jean Paul Richter, of the Denmark
Of Hans Christian Andersen, is IN her stories,
tending to them its familiar treatment Of nature
Its facilc attributon to animals and plants and
pebbles and clouds Of the life anu feelings Oh
men, She was a neghbor and friena OF Words
worth whose ideas in many respects she evidently
held, and whose passion for the beauties OF nature
she emulated In her stories there are bits OF
description las in "1he Stream"J which show close
and loving study, while her free and graceful use
of the supernatural element speaks of spirit
dee; w imbued with not alone the Teutonic mag
mat on but with a spiritually y derived from strong
religious fee ling. Tenderness, resentment at in
Justice and hardness Of every kind breathe
through the pages and they are Informed by a
purity of thought which lifts them far above The
average literary standard. AS book for the
amusement and development of children nothing
could be better. and there are few healthy mi nded
men or women who will not read these simple,
sweet little stories with genuine pleasure